An increasingly favourable Indonesian investment climate offers growth opportunities for Australian exporters, according to new analysis from Efic.

Jokowi’s reform drive buoys Indonesia’s investment climate

Indonesia’s investment climate has benefited from 11 wide-ranging reform packages introduced by the government since September 2015.

“This renewed reformist zeal has boosted market sentiment and will aid new efforts to increase underdeveloped trade and investment ties between Australia and our close neighbour. Progress on reforms has helped reignite the possibility of an FTA with Australia”, says Efic Senior Economist, Cassandra Winzenried.

President Jokowi’s reforms have focused on deregulation, domestic industry revitalisation, eased trade restrictions, improved logistics and attracting foreign investment. This has improved the business environment, with a shortened approval process for building and land permits, and reduced processing times at ports. And the “Negative Investment List” has been reduced to allow foreign ownership in growth sectors like communications, health, manufacturing and tourism.

“So far the signs are promising, with the stock market up 18 per cent from the 52-week low at the end of September 2015. In comparison, the MSCI ex-Japan rose just 7 per cent over the same period”, says Winzenried.

China’s ailing corporate profits are a bad omen

Chinese corporate profits fell 1.4 per cent in 2015, the first annual decline since at least 2000.

Profit data in the opening two months of 2016 showed some improvement, but the overall trend remains gloomy. Falling mining profits were behind the disappointing profit numbers, as overcapacity in the resource sector and lacklustre real estate investment has reduced the demand for commodities.

According to Winzenried, “History in the US and Japan shows us that a sustained downturn in corporate profits often foreshadows an economic downturn, as business responds by cutting hiring and investment.

“However, the 2015 profit numbers do have some positives. Consumer-oriented industries, including processed foods and drinks, medicines and clothing outperformed relative to the commodities sectors, which is consistent with China’s rebalancing narrative.”

Efic is a specialist financier that delivers simple and creative solutions for Australian companies – to enable them to win business, grow internationally and achieve export success.

Through its loans, guarantees, bonds and insurance products, Efic has helped many Australian exporters and subcontractors take advantage of new contract opportunities that may otherwise have been out of reach.

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